The employees of 37signals remembered my craft in creating the holiday gifts they received in 2011. They came to me with the task of designing and crafting the holiday gift they would give the co-founders of 37signals in 2012.

I designed and bound an edition of two books that featured spreads of words and images created by each of the employees. Again, it was a great experience to work on such a tangible, traditional product for such a technology-driven company.

See more photos of the finished piece and the process here.

Below are two examples of illustrations for Cinema Slapdown film events: Shame and The Help. My work has given a new look to Cinema Slapdown which has been well-received by the client and the audience members. I have also worked on illustrations for several other film showings and have another in the works. I hope to keep illustration in my design work and can’t wait to explore more styles and ideas in the near future.

The photos here display my first attempt at this lightbox-like project. Unclear of what my messaging should currently be, I use a question mark for the prototype. When the light is off it appears that the object is really just a framed white panel. Upon switching on the light, the typography is revealed. This is just the start to the idea. Perhaps I’ll find a message with meaning. If not, I’ll have an excuse to create some fun patterns and letters!

I’ve been living and working in Chicago for nearly six months now. Just last week I finished up a project at work where I had a large role in producing the holiday gift that 37signals would be giving their employees. This project included making 40 custom boxes out of old travel books and letterpress printing envelopes and book plates on a C&P and a two color map on a showcard press. After all the pieces were produced, the entire package was assembled and shipped. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to use my bookmaking skills and craft to produce a handmade product for such a technology driven company.

The video above was put together by Shaun Hildner of 37signals to document the process. Check out 37signals blog post about the project too!

Early last month, Simple.Honest.Work. took a trip up to the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Two Rivers, WI to hang out, get away from our computers, help out at the museum, and do some letterpress printing. This was my third time up to Hamilton and I was asked to make a fall themed football print for the museum to sell. After taking a look at some football cuts from the Globe Printing Collection, I got to work with only the day to make the print.

Buy a poster and help support Hamilton today!

In designing my portfolio, I decided to create a handmade slipcase with magnetic closure to house four perfect bound portfolio books. In the past, as many people do in college, I had always used a larger format book that I would walk everyone through during an interview. In this new portfolio, I wanted a more interactive element (achieved by having multiple smaller copies) where people could see my work in their own hands while exploring the portfolio book design as well.

I decided to manufacture this portfolio completely on my own, using my Epson R1900 inkjet printer and my bookbinding skills. It was a long task that required many mock ups and a lot of planning but it was a very rewarding process. Seriously, if you’re reading this and you’re a designer, take a bookbinding course – it’ll be a great experience and you’ll learn something useful.

It seems like as soon as I finished creating my portfolio, I was called upon to use it and I (somewhat luckily) didn’t have to use it many times before I was employed full-time.

With the launch of the project, Felt & Wire began featuring interviews with the designers and printers who participated in the project. It was at this time I realized my notebook was starting to be a success. Nothing feels quite as good as complete strangers’ comments about how your notebook is their favorite. Check out my interview here!

Right after my interview was featured, Felt & Wire began a contest to determine which notebook from the Feedback Loop was the crowd’s favorite. After a short week of people voting on facebook, my notebook was voted the favorite! As a wonderful and unexpected reward, I received an entire set of notebooks from the project. Upon opening the box, I was delighted to see the variety in construction and design and to find the little hidden elements that were not noticeable in the storefront photos.

If that all wasn’t enough, Felt & Wire’s featured collection last week was
curated by Kristin Appenbrink, the associate editor of RealSimple.com.
Upon taking a look, I came to find my notebook featured in her collection.
What a wonderful surprise.

I’ve been intending to start my process of selling at the Felt & Wire shop since before my participation in the Feedback Loop. After seeing the success of my notebook, I’m hopeful that other things I’ve created will be received just as well. I’ll try to get my work moved down to me in Indianapolis from Chicago very soon so I can start sharing my work with others.

In the meantime, a big thank you goes out to everyone who has supported the Notebook Project and to Felt & Wire for doing what they do so wonderfully.

The place is Vision3 Creative (V3 for short). It’s a small studio of 14 people
that has grown with four more since I arrived one month ago! V3 focuses on interactive media with a strong emphasis on touch-screen experiences.
They love the color orange (as indicated above by their logo) so I think it’s
a good fit. Oh, and the people and studio space are awesome as well.

I’m getting used to designing in pixels and haven’t yet adjusted to the idea of having nothing physically tangible upon the completion of a project. I think I’ll have to get busy with some of my own projects in my spare time!

To see the photos of my process and finished notebooks, check out my flickr.

Be sure to head over to the Felt & Wire Shop on Wednesday when all the notebooks are up for sale. I’m excited to finally see what everyone has
been working on!